Drama, suspense, adventure and horrible realities mixed with heart felt sentiment. How can a book, BE so much. It is a book about relationships and reconciliations. It is also a book about culture. It will change the way you look at the word culture, and it will change how you look at the world. If you have a love of adventure, nature, even wilderness survival type journeys…and then the purpose and meaning of lives…how life is lived, you will me moved, possibly transformed. If you like to read true to life, in-your-face drama…the conflicts and consequence of strained relationships and the regrets, the reforming, the rehabilitating and as mentioned… the path to reconciliation, peace, love and forgiveness…it unfolds here, like no other book you have read. While Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, stands as the most familiar “theme” of father-son-journey-to reconciliation-of-life (and significant inspiration even today), so know we owe alot, to alot of people and resources. WE are a well read father and son, and you will not believe we could have written such a book together. Surely, you will think that must have held something back from you the reader…or each other. The important thing to note, if written only by father, it is obvious the son would soon learn “his truth”. The same will be realized that the father must know and accept and reconcile the “son’s truth. A book about discovery…hoping it will aid others in “self-discovery” and guide many to that similar path, to peace and reconciliation, paved in love…and unbelievable memories. Enjoy!
As with any introduction to a book, I hope to catch the readers attention. So this represents…”intentional living”. While I know that the title “Now and Zen” is not original…neither is the “intentional living” mantra. There will be much you recognize from other sources, but that is what represents our lives, our thoughts our feelings. They all do come from another source.

This book will also become quite humourous at times…and my originality will come through. I Know that my “brand” of humour, is not everybody’s cup of tea…and I also recognize (aware from my own world) that not every one would choose Zen as a “way of being” or path of life, but it is here as MY example of how to live…”intentionally”. We all can just “BE” in this world. In fact that will be the path to peace, if it has alluded you, based on other choices of what to believe and how to live. These original (or molded thoughts formed from other context, that are soft like clay…or could be chisseled like sandstone…which actual weave a tapestry with “borrowed thought”. I will refer to my thoughts as “from Scratch”. As a baker who makes things “from scratch” the creation is there own…the ingredients already existed.

While many of you will want a “punch line” humour from the get-go, know that you will require some patience. This is a book about life. It is a partial sharing of some peoples lives. Obvious as the author, it will be mainly “my Life” that will be exposed, while other’s you will often read me include….it is “their story to tell”.

While this book will be largely autobiographical, it will be HUGELY metaphorical…and the “universal- like expansion will be “philosophical”. If you are not fond of metaphors, or the “cup of tea” of your potential interests is not so “into philosophy”…I think you will be surprised by what is shared. It will be controversial…and it will make you think…possibly long and hard…about your place in the “bigger picture”.

Daringly…I will expose some of my faults, flaws and weakness. I will also share some of those things that I am not proud of. What may come of this “expose” will be less about me…and more about the greater consciouness and the collective good. I will speak of the destiny of the planet…the ecology and the qulaity of life of the human organism and the “best interests” of other species, and why it is in our best interest to not just care about the environment and nature…but to be “part of the solution.

So, yes this will be a timely piece…it will share alot of “history”…but we will delve into the context of “technology”. There will be something here for the science “geek”, but more for those that care about the technology of the mind an spirit. There will be medical science discussed…and Yogic or “inner sciences” revealed.

This is a dramatic story unfolding. There will be the intermittent humour I have promised, but, like most of us…we tend to like some romance, suspense, or psychological thriller approach to a story. I do not know if it will be a “gripping story” to every one. My guess is that some may set the book down after reading this introduction and think…I know and have read, so much of “this stuff” before. ( and by the way…there will be common language, slang, some profanity…these frequent “pregnant pauses) represented here as …

Yes, that is (…)…a deliberate request to pause. For some inclusion, it will be a “nano-second” break in the sentence “intended”… while other times I would think you should put the book down and ponder.

I also feel it warrants a heads up to many “types” of people. I respect all on this planet, while it will seem that I point my finger, stereotype…”homogenize” those that come from a certain profession or “persuasion”. I do not believe for a moment that all people from “the same walk so life” either feel the same as every else of their “group”. I do not wish (intend) to offend. It is just the “nature” of the beast, in discourse, (thought, word, whether written or spoken)…that someone may take “it personal”. I ask if this happens…forgive me…and/or forgive yourself. With this comment just written, know that I do not feel “mightier than thou”. The opposite may be true…I can assure you…I have been extremely self-critical through out life. This is part of my journey. To come to know myself, is best to accept and forgive myself. So, yes, inclusive of what this book is about, it is about Life…the BIG picture of life…and so it smacks of spirituality, as much as psychology, philosophy or one man’s theory about “LIFE”. It will also bring critical analysis of such concept as “group think” and cognitive dissonance, but I plan to footnote these “concepts” and expand in laymens terms…any and all medical and psychology terminologies.
By the end you will transition into and AH HA moment…that I assure you.

If you like period material or “history”, it is in there. It is not likely there have been documentaries of written coverage of some “expose” of say “the Sixties”. I was born in a very unique area…yes a country bumpkin, but not in “the States”. Much of what you read will be a Canadian’s take on …LIFE in the states.

This will be very interesting for Americans and Canadians alike, because of my affiliations with those from the states. I will also talk about other “people” in some homogenous ways, yes…but it will be with a backdrop of their history…going back millenia. I will speak of “eastern thought” with the knowledge and understanding that “we”, in the “west”, have modernized much of what we embrace from the eastern reality and philosophy. WE have created a philosophy that stand seperate, but melding into (integrated…or fused…”yoked”, like in Yoga)…but we have not reconciled our “westerness” orientations, biases and predjudices.

The modern day Guru’s of east and/or west…share less in common with the Sages and Shaman’s of antiquity…far too many are more likely part of the representation of what celebrity (and Canadian) Mike Myer’s was driven to share in the recent “Love Guru”. While far from his “greatest” contribution to entertainment and “enlightenment” (I think Shrek, hold more subliminal enlightenment, while Austen Powers was as hugely popular and funny, but for differing audiences). WE hopefully can poke fun at ourselves. Hopefully there can be tolerance of a little entertainment at the expense of some of the “stereotyping” that exists (is just plain ol’ reality), that is a part of our world, as it is.

I also invite all to “contemplate”…to “reflect” as you will. I am not trying to persuade anyone to “think from scratch”…as if Scratch…beside being one of the most entertaining of last names (you’ll see what I mean as you read the book).

There will be disclaimers, throughout the book…almost as if an apology each time. Hoping that does not get old…or redundant, I feel I must “restate” my position, as a person and as a professional. That will be one of the interesting prospectives you will find here. I have had a few different “titles” and “entitlements”. I have three (or more, depending how you seperate out “professionalism) professions. Most know me as a Nurse…that’s right…a male nurse. That alone will carry the suspense and “intrigue” factor…for this collective of stories. While I will say often enough, again…that it is “their story to tell”, I will share some benign and anonymous stories, anecdotes…perspectives and interpretations, some of which are hilarious, some disturbing. If you think that I am crossing the line, being unprofessional, violating an ethical code…I will not be. This writing, inclusive of many things is about “Ethical, intentional living”…I will hold to that.

The above said, and reflecting back on who might be offended, and who might judge this book as unethical…I give you this:

We are, right now facing the most controversial, conflicting and contentious time in history. Yes there have been some monumental “transitions” such as “human rights” movements, and I will address many.

Yes, this is facing many differing and different theories as to “what” is actually happening now. We will explore much of what you may read on the front page, of on World Events.

There will be theoretical under-pinnings (foundations) unsurfaced, cultivated or exposed. There will be what seems like a Canadian raised in America, kind of focus…but while I did live in the U.S., share significant “life transitions” with American freinds and partners…this will be why such a “perspective” came to be.

There will be some “shifts”, call them “paradigm shifts” if you like, in the greater global mindset. Group think on the other hand is another story all together. While there is “generation gaps” and “gender Gaps”, in understanding truth…there is no argument, that we are witnessing some quantum shifts ( some quantum leaps as well).

As I have mentioned, this represents a very timely piece…we need to think about the thoughts which will be stimulated by what I share. Together, our collective consciousness…if we align technology through inter-generational, inter-professional and inter-national collaboration. It is our children’s children for whom this book is written and so that transformative living can lead to greater peace…inside and out.

“making that all important first step, to the most important journey ever”

“we are what we settle for…we can be, whatever we dare to dream”
BE, the change,

Dave